Ready to activate again, but tourism businesses in Phu Quoc are still waiting for instructions on the detailed welcome process.
According to the plan to welcome international tourists to Phu Quoc using the "vaccine passport" issued by the People's Committee of Kien Giang province on October 21, there are 15 resorts, 4 travel agencies and many attractions and entertainment. suggested. All units have connected with partners, trained staff on processes, built products to be ready to reopen. However, most are now in a nervous mood waiting for more detailed instructions.
Opened hotel is situated in a list of proposed international welcome visitors to Phu Quoc, Vietravel Tourism Company has taken steps to prepare from mid-May 9. Nguyet Nguyen Van Khanh, Deputy Director of Marketing Department, for Currently, the unit has contacted the international partner system, giving priority to countries with Covid-19 vaccine coverage and good epidemic control.
"It is expected that in 2021 we will carry out 1-2 charter flights to Phu Quoc with the number of 200-400 guests. In 2022, the company plans to conduct 3-5 charter flights, equivalent to above 1,000 guests per month," Ms. Khanh said.
European countries are preparing to enter the cold winter, causing the demand for resorts in tropical countries like Vietnam to increase. Photo taken in March 2020 when international visitors are still allowed to come to Vietnam, at Tan Son Nhat airport. Photo: Quynh Tran
On the side of accommodation facilities, the Mövenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc resort utility complex is working with a partner who is an international hotel operator, travel from Russia, Korea, and Europe.. Most of them are excited about the information about the opening of the Phu Quoc tourism market and are ready to cooperate as soon as they have official instructions. In which, two very ready markets are Europe and Korea. The number of guests can reach thousands of people.
The resort is training the staff in operating procedures according to the regulations of the competent state agencies. In addition, the unit applies the sanitary and phytosanitary standard ALL SAFE, certified by the Clifford organization, as a safety shield for visitors and staff.
A representative of Sun Group said that with the plan to welcome international guests in Phu Quoc, the group is ready to participate. Isolated buildings and villas at Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay are focusing on maintenance and renewal of the entire amusement park and cable car system in the south of the island.
The Group also builds a safe welcome process, following instructions from ministries, departments and agencies, to ensure a closed connection from the airport to the hotel as well as the amusement park. In parallel with preparing to welcome international guests, Sun Group determined that the domestic market is still the mainstream, so there have been many new products following natural trends such as wellness experiences (health care tourism). tailor-made, scuba diving to see the coral...
Scuba diving is one of the recommended activities for international guests. Photo: SeaWorld
In early September, the Government approved in writing the pilot plan to welcome international visitors to Phu Quoc. This plan was drawn up many months ago with the proposed process no longer relevant today. The People's Committee of Kien Giang province was then asked to coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to collect opinions from people, organizations, social organizations, businesses... to issue specific procedures and guidelines. , ensuring the feasibility and safety of Covid-19 prevention and control. On October 21, the province announced a new plan, with content not much different from the previous plan, and continues to wait for approval.
Sun World Group Sales Director, Ms. Tran Nguyen, expressed her wish to soon have a unified, clear and streamlined process for businesses to easily plan specific plans after many months of waiting. In it, she said that the procedures must ensure maximum safety but be simple for visitors to have the best experience and businesses to remove difficulties. According to her, Vietnam can study open-door models applied in Singapore and Thailand in terms of policy and technology.
A representative of another accommodation facility said that he was also looking forward to detailed instructions from the authorities. This person added, according to the plan of phase 1 of the pilot program, Phu Quoc is expected to welcome 3,000-5,000 guests and propose 15 resorts, but there is no specific number of guests allowed for each place. This makes businesses have no basis to promote and sign with international partners.
In addition to the advantage of the sea and natural islands, Phu Quoc owns luxury resorts, entertainment spots, and beautiful check-ins. Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An
When hearing that Vietnam reopens tourism for international visitors, most of the partners are eager. But after learning the information, they realized that the expected process still has many complicated procedures like Thailand in the first stage of opening, making them more timid because the audience that can meet the requirements is narrow and regulated. This is also not revised in the new plan of Kien Giang.
In order to complete the detailed plan, on October 22, the Phu Quoc Tourism Development Investment Association (PITDA) sent a document to the People's Committees of Kien Giang Province and Phu Quoc City, recommending that the country should not be limited to the destination. Fully open to people who have received the Covid-19 vaccine. In addition, the Association proposes not to limit the number of guests for each period, because it may make business conditions in Phu Quoc less effective. Ensuring safety against Covid-19 is essential, so it is necessary to have a response plan, serving at least similar to the regulations currently applied to isolated flights.
"Only when crowded, the hotel can afford to operate, so the number of guests should not be limited. Several thousand guests divided, each unit can't pick up much, compared to the number of hotels and rooms currently available. now in Phu Quoc," said Mr. Le Ngoc Long, Vice Chairman of PITDA, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Long Beach Group.
Ms. Le Thi Hai Chau, General Director of Movenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc, proposed to open a wider "playground" for travel agencies, international airlines, etc. Thereby businesses can actively contribute to promotion. image of Phu Quoc, bringing more visitors to Vietnam and still strictly complying with instructions from management agencies, safety regulations for epidemic prevention and control.
On October 25, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism submitted a report on temporary guidance on piloting international tourists to Vietnam to the Prime Minister. In the report, there are new points in the direction of more convenience for tourists, such as no longer having to quarantine for 7 days... This guide will also be commented by the competent ministries and agencies before being issued. official.
As planned, Phu Quoc will welcome the first international guests back to Vietnam in March 2020, at the end of November, but the exact time has not been announced. In early October, people of Phu Quoc began to receive the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and will complete the second dose in early November. In addition to Phu Quoc, Khanh Hoa has also prepared the conditions to welcome international guests as soon as possible.
